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In Jat land, most parties ‘unfair’ to fair sex
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State of parties National Conference
Snapshots
J&K Cong banking on Azad to sail through
As discontent grows, Aam Aadmi Party declares 56 candidates
STOCK-TAKING: Ramesh Kumar South Delhi
Chaos as Kejriwal visits Mumbai
SC tells law panel to look into hate speeches
BJP likely to name candidates for over 175 seats today
Ashwani writes to Sonia over Tewari’s ‘taint’ remark
Anna gives Mamata’s Delhi rally a skip
Trinamool Congress’ supporters during the ‘Jantantra Rally’ at Ramlila Ground in New Delhi on Wednesday. photo: Manas ranjan bhui
Chiranjeevi's actor-brother to float new party
BJD's first list has 3 royals, film star
BJP giving Holi a communal colour: Cong
Mayawati denies ticket to sitting MPs
Jagdambika Pal accuses Khurshid’s NGO of fraud
Process for LS polls set in motion
Interesting battle likely at Varanasi EC refuses to change poll dates in Assam
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In Jat land, most parties ‘unfair’ to fair sex
With the male members of a family usually calling the shots, particularly in rural belts, females are expected to vote for the candidate the former choose. Since men here believe that thinking is not a woman's job and taking any decision certainly not their prerogative, the fairer sex gets a raw deal from political parties, in manifestos and even in ticket distribution. While they don't figure on any political party's agenda, the politicians don't think that issues such as skewed sex ratio or women's rights are something to ponder over and promise to this large voter chunk. That women are so low on the priority list for political parties is evident from the poor representation they get as candidates in established political parties and most only end up contesting as Independents and losing. Then, it comes as no surprise that since 1966, after Haryana was carved out as a separate state, the voters have sent back only five women Parliamentarians. As the 2014 Parliamentary elections draw closer, the number of women voters has seen a jump of 16.98 lakh from the 2009 elections. However, nothing has changed for the women as they toil their way election after election. If statistics of the 2009 election are any indication, women candidates, it seems, stand nowhere. While 31 women filed their nomination against 254 men from the state's 10 Parliamentary seats, 13 were rejected and four withdrew their nomination. Of the 14 women candidates, 12 lost even their security deposit, while the remaining two, Kumari
Selja, now a Rajya Sabha MP, and Shruti Choudhry, MP from
Bhiwani-Mahendragarh, were sent to Parliament. But, both have the advantage of a strong political background. Other than the two women candidates fielded by the Congress, the Bharatiya Janata Party
(BJP) was Haryana's only mainstream party that gave the ticket to Sudha Yadav from
Gurgaon. She got 16.64 per cent of the votes polled, which was nearly 20 per cent lower than the winning candidate. However, this certainly was an improvement over the 2004 Parliamentary elections in terms of women who contested the election. While only 20 women filed their nomination and eight contested the election, only one woman candidate,
Selja, made it to Parliament then. While the Congress may claim to have given 20 per cent seats, two of the 10, to women last time, the tally may again fall down to 10 per cent this time round with Bhiwani-Mahendragarh MP Shruti Choudhry likely to be the only woman candidate. Haryana Congress president Ashok Tanwar says the party champions the cause of women like no other. "As compared to other parties, we give fair representation to women while allotting tickets. In Haryana, women have 20 per cent representation. However, that is not enough and the party will give tickets on merit. We could not give 33 per cent reservation to women because of a fractured mandate and pressure from partner parties. We hope the 16th Lok Sabha will be stronger and sensitive," Tanwar says. He says Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi has met women groups to know their aspirations and these will find reflection in the party's
manifesto. Haryana's home-grown political party, the Indian National Lok Dal
(INLD), has nothing to boast of when it comes to women in the forefront. The party had fielded only one woman candidate in the last two elections. "There was a time when women did not come forward to contest elections due to purdah system. Now, they are equal participants. We gave 30 per cent seats to women in the Assembly elections. We will bring in more women gradually," says INLD state chief Ashok
Arora, choosing to avoid an answer on why women were not the party's choice for any of the 10 seats. Leader of BJP Legislature Party in the Vidhan Sabha, Anil
Vij, maintains that "winnability" is the only criterion for ticket allotment. "While we have women contenders from all the seats, the ticket is given to the candidate who can win," he remarks, adding that the party's vision document and manifesto will definitely have something for women. Winnability is the only criterion for ticket allotment. While we have women contenders from all seats, the ticket is given to the candidate who can win. The party's vision document and manifesto will have something for
women. — Anil Vij, leader of bjp legislature party
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State of parties National Conference Kashmir’s oldest political party National Conference still a formidable force to be reckoned with Azhar Qadri Tribune News Service
Srinagar, March 12 First political killing
Halwai was the first in a series of killings of members of the National Conference, many of whom fled the region or maintained a low profile, which threw the party into disarray. The party, revolving around the powerhouse of the Abdullah family, however, made a quick comeback and formed the government even as the militancy raged at an unprecedented level in 1996.
Demand for autonomy
The National Conference's politics has revolved around the demand for the restoration of autonomy as it was in the state prior to 1953 when Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah was the Chief Minister. In its 2008 election manifesto, the National Conference had termed the restoration of autonomy as the 'bedrock' of its policy and agenda. "The restoration of autonomy remains in the blood of every National Conference worker," a party official said, blaming the 'coalition compulsions' for the party's failure to make any headway in its resolve. Despite being one of the most-hunted parties by militants and also the most hated party by separatists who blame it for 'all that went wrong' in Kashmir, the National Conference has lived through with little internal dissensions in the past 25 years.
Taking centre stage
In the 2008 Assembly elections, the National Conference emerged as the single largest party in the state winning 28 of the 87 seats and formed a coalition government with the Congress. It was for the second time since the eruption of militancy that it formed the government. In the 1996 elections, the party had swept the polls bagging 57 seats.
Loyal cadre
In the Srinagar Parliamentary constituency, the National Conference leadership comprises Ali Mohammad Sagar, Nasir Aslam Wani, Altaf Ahmad and Abdul Rahim Rather. In the 2008 elections, the father-son duo, Farooq and Omar, won three Assembly seats in the Srinagar parliamentary constituency. In the Baramulla Parliamentary constituency, the party is re-nominating Sharif-ud-din Shariq. The NC leadership in Baramulla include Kafil-ur-Rehman, Chowdhary Mohammad Ramzan, Javaid Ahmad Dar and Mohammad Akbar Lone. The marshy area for the party in the upcoming election, however, will be the Anantnag Parliamentary constituency where the National Conference has lost a considerable foothold to the main Opposition People's Democratic Party (PDP). Of the 16 Assembly constituencies in Anantnag, the National Conference won only one in 2008, though it won the 2009 Parliamentary elections. On the contrary, the
party officials are confident that they will sweep the elections, even in
Anantnag. "Do not only look at the 2008 elections. Also, see that we won the 2009 elections and have an excellent record in the panchayat elections," a party official said. Tanvir Sadiq, former spokesman for the ruling party and now the Chief Minister's political secretary, said the party will go to the people in a confident mood. "We will go to the people and tell them we have fulfilled our promises," added
Sadiq.
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Case against Rahul quashed
Alappuzha (Kerala): A court on Wednesday quashed a case against Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi for climbing atop a vehicle in "violation" of traffic rules during a Youth Congress march in the state in January after police defended his action citing security grounds. — PTI Left to decide on TN seats
Chennai: The announcement on the constituencies to be contested by the Left parties in Tamil Nadu can be expected on March 17, CPI state secretary D Pandian said on Wednesday. "Our state council will meet on March 15, while CPM's state committee will meet next day," he said.
— PTI Left Front mocks Didi’s rally
Kolkata: Mocking West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's 'flop show' in Delhi, the Left Front on Wednesday asked what went wrong? "What can I say? The Trinamool Congress leaders for the past few days were saying it will be a historic rally with a gathering of more than 1 lakh. So what went wrong?" Left Front chairman Biman Bose said.
— PTI Driver who ferried Kejri fined
Mumbai: Police on Wednesday fined an auto driver for ferrying AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal from the Mumbai airport to the suburban Andheri railway station. He was fined for ferrying more than three passengers.
— PTI
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J&K Cong banking on Azad to sail through
Jammu, March 12 The party cadre feels that if the high command fields Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad from the Udhampur-Doda Lok Sabha seat, the party will have an upper hand in other segments as well. As per an agreement with the National Conference, the Congress is going to contest Udhampur-Doda, Jammu-Poonch and Ladakh Lok Sabha seats. All block presidents, district presidents, MLAs, MLCs and ministers from Kathua, Udhampur, Doda, Ramban, Kishtwar and Reasi have written to the high command to field Azad from the Udhampur-Doda segment. At a meeting of the executive committee of the state Congress on Tuesday, a majority of the speakers said that fielding Azad from Udhampur-Doda would give psychological edge to the Congress over the BJP. "A letter signed by all block presidents, district presidents, MLAs, MLCs and ministers of the Udhampur-Doda Lok Sabha segment has been faxed to the high command on Tuesday," a Congress MLA told The Tribune. The MLA, who returned Congress leaders argue that sitting Lok Sabha member Choudhary Lal Singh is a staunch supporter of Azad and he will not oppose this move. The local Congress leaders tried to convince the high command that Azad's influence can be utilised in the Jammu-Poonch Lok Sabha seat where the party is in a triangular contest with the BJP and the PDP. State Congress leaders say that Azad as the Union Health Minister has a strong following in the erstwhile Doda district, his native place. |
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As discontent grows, Aam Aadmi Party declares 56 candidates
New Delhi, March 12 Importantly, for the high-profile Rae Bareli Parliamentary seat, where AAP local convener Archana Shrivastava said rural votes from 646 gram sabhas would determine the candidates' fate, Ilmi has expressed her reluctance to contest and even refused to have agreed for the same. Ilmi, who unsuccessfully contested on the AAP ticket from RK Puram in last Delhi Assembly elections, is learnt to have been keen for Chandni Chowk or New Delhi Lok Sabha seat. "I am not contesting from Rae Bareli. I never agreed to nor do I now ... I've been denying this for the past two months," Ilmi posted on Twitter. Today, she said she wanted to contest from Delhi and did not know people in Rae Bareli. Sources within the party confirmed that the idea of fielding Ilmi against UPA chairperson and Congress president Sonia Gandhi had been doing rounds for quite some time and it had the backing of members of political affairs committee (PAC) too. PAC member Vishwas, who has been pitted against Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, too, indicated reservations over party's decision on a few candidatures, especially on tickets being given to new entrants. But, later during the day he said there was no resentment within the party and it was largely a manipulation by a section of the media to defame the party. "I received a few complaints that some tickets were given to wrong persons. So, I took up the matter in Delhi. The matter is being inquired and if there is any truth in the allegations then tickets will be cancelled," he said. "If all kind of garbage falls into a surging river, it will only make the river impure and unholy. The devotees will be scared to take a dip, let alone drink that water," he had tweeted. However, the party is yet to take a call on the Rae Bareli seat, said another PAC member Gopal Rai. "The party's parameter for candidate selection is not the period for which a member has been associated with the party, but whether the candidate is honest and ready to further the party's vision. The party's message to those who are seeking tickets is simple and clear that they are free to leave," Rai said. For the Rae Bareli seat in UP, while the local unit of the AAP has started campaigning, the party's local convener said the party had received 17 applications. "It doesn't matter to us whosoever contests. We will carry out our campaign as we are challenging the Congress might in a place where money power has been the order of the day," the convener added. Fissures to the fore: The disagreement over a few candidatures came out in the open following the Twitter posts of AAP leader Shazia Ilmi and Amethi candidate Kumar Vishwas even as both continued to deny any differences within the party top brass.
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STOCK-TAKING: Ramesh Kumar South Delhi Fielded in place of his brother Sajjan Kumar, he failed to make the most of the opportunity Syed Ali Ahmed Tribune News Service
Kumar was entitled to get Rs 19 crore sanctioned under the MP Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) to carry out development works in his constituency, but he had got only Rs 4.19 crore sanctioned and spent Rs 3.08 crore. He got a double-story community centre constructed at Bar Sarai at a cost of Rs 6 lakh, sanctioned Rs 33 lakh for a tubewell, Rs 4.32 lakh for streetlights on the road to Asola village, Rs 1.96 lakh for high mast light at a primary school in Deoli village, Rs 2.99 lakh for a cremation ground, Rs 1 crore to expand a bridge from two to three lanes and Rs 47.31 lakh to extend a chaupal at Katvaria Sarai.
Kumar had won the elections due to popularity and support of his brother Sajjan Kumar, who is a towering Congress leader in Delhi. Sajjan was not given the ticket as he was one of the accused in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. Though the MP's tenure is nearing an end, local people still do not remember his name. Instead of Ramesh, they call Sajjan Kumar as their MP. Amit Agarwal, a social worker from Vasant Kunj, said: "I have never seen Ramesh attending any function of his constituency. Encroachment on roads and on the DDA land is common. Markets developed by the DDA are in bad shape. The MCD does not take interest in DDA markets. The local MP can sanction funds to develop these markets, but he has not taken interest in the past five years."
BJP MLA from Tughlakabad Ramesh Bidhuri, who had lost the Parliamentary elections in 2009 to Ramesh Kumar, said in the past five years the local MP had not participated even in a single debate and did not ask any question related to the development of his area. "People of Sarita Vihar, Deoli village and Palam have been requesting him to construct hospitals in their areas, but nothing has been done in this regard so far," Bidhuri said, adding that no new college had been opened in any segment of the constituency. "The Mehrauli-Badarpur Road is the busiest stretch in South Delhi, but nothing has been done to decongest the traffic. The MP has not put up any demand in the House for metro or mono-rail construction. People wanted a foot over-bridge at Harkesh Nagar near Apollo Hospital, but the MP failed on that front too," Bidhuri added.
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Chaos as Kejriwal visits Mumbai
Mumbai, March 12 Workers of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) were accused of vandalising station property after metal detectors were damaged during the chaos at the Churchgate station where Kejriwal rode by train from Andheri. There was chaos at Churchgate station on Kejriwal’s arrival. The AAP leader earlier took an auto-rickshaw ride. Welcomed by a crowd of AAP activists, the former Delhi Chief Minister stepped out of the airport and hailed an auto rickshaw along with two other senior party leaders. There was a large media contingent and a significant police presence at the airport. A contingent of police personnel, media persons and party activists trailed the auto rickshaw over the entire five-km distance till Kejriwal alighted near Andheri station. The AAP chief then boarded the city's lifeline Mumbai local, to travel to Churchgate station in south Mumbai. As he alighted, a crowd greeted, cheered and virtually mobbed Kejriwal, who was clad in a skyblue shirt with sleeves partly rolled up, his trademark AAP cap and dark trousers. Kejriwal acknowledged their greetings by raising his hands. Metal detectors at the Churchgate station were toppled in the heavy rush as AAP workers made their way out. Among the crowd was also a group of youths who showed black flags to Kejriwal. They said they did not belong to any organisation but were students who were protesting against Kejriwal's alleged "media management" as seen in a leaked video of him on YouTube. — PTI
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SC tells law panel to look into hate speeches
New Delhi, March 12 The National Human Rights Commission would also be “well within its power” to initiate suo motu proceedings against such leaders, a Bench comprising Justices BS Chauhan, MY Eqbal and AK Sikri said in a verdict on a PIL filed on the issue by Pravasi Bhalai Sangathan, an NGO. The Law Commission should also define “hate speech” and make recommendations to Parliament to strengthen the EC to curb the menace, irrespective of the timing of such a crime, be it during elections or not, it said. The Bench noted that several laws had already been enacted to deal with hate speeches by political and religious leaders on the basis of caste, religion and region. “The root of the problem is not the absence of laws but rather a lack of their effective execution. Therefore, the executive as well as civil society has to perform its role in enforcing the already existing legal regime. “Effective regulation of hate speeches at all levels is required as the authors of such speeches can be booked under the existing penal law and all the law enforcing agencies must ensure that the existing law is not rendered a dead letter,” the Bench held. Nevertheless, the SC asked the Law Commission to consider the issue to strengthen the mechanism aimed at checking political parties and leaders to resort to such tactics to gain mileage.
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Nitish returns Modi barbs, says not arrogant
Patna, March 12 "We all have respect for the Mt Everest, which is the highest peak of Himalaya ... but it cannot be a scale to measure arrogance ... born in a poor family, I only have self respect and no arrogance," Kumar said while addressing a press conference here. "The style of talking and body posture shows who is arrogant... everybody knows that actually arrogance is dropping from every inch of his (Modi's) body," Kumar said two days after Modi attacked him at a rally in Purnea. The BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate had alleged that the JD(U) leader's "arrogance" and "ambition" to become the Prime Minister had driven him to split from the BJP. Stating that he wanted to put the record straight, Kumar said he wanted to respond to Modi's "lies" yesterday, but was busy with induction of a woman minister into the Cabinet after the resignation of Renu Kushwaha. Kumar showed figures to highlight the "truth" about development in Gujarat, which, he said, the BJP was "trumpeting" across the country. He laughed at figures given by Modi from the Sachar committee report to compare the socio-economic condition of Muslims in Bihar and Gujarat. Kumar said these figures pertained to the financial year 2004-05 and were based on 2001 Census, before Modi had assumed power in the state (in November 2005). He said a comparison between a backward and landlocked state like Bihar with a developed coastal state of Gujarat was "unjustifiable".
— PTI
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BJP likely to name candidates for over 175 seats today
New Delhi, March 12 Sources say the party may end some suspense tomorrow on constituencies of its senior leaders, including Narendra Modi and Rajnath Singh. Party spokesman Shahnawaz Hussain, however, refused to comment on the issue. On the question whether Modi would contest from the Varanasi seat, which is currently held by senior leader Murli Manohar Joshi, he said, “Modi’s candidature is part of the BJP’s strategy and when and how it is revealed, depends on the top leadership.” There are indications that the issue of Modi and other senior party leaders’ constituencies will be discussed by the BJP’s top decision making body (its parliamentary board) today. The panel is expected to clear the names of around 175 to 200 candidates, including some top leaders, for states going to the polls in the first three phases on April 9, 10 and 12. Parts of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Bihar and Chandigarh will go to the polls along with Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Madhya Pradesh on these dates. The party panel will also take a call on the proposal that BJP president and Ghaziabad MP Rajnath Singh should contest from Lucknow. Sitting Lucknow MP Lalji Tandon has already said that he will vacate the seat for Modi only. Lucknow is the constituency of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and it holds great significance for the party. Senior RSS leader Bhaiyyaji Joshi has reportedly conveyed to the BJP top brass that Modi should contest from Uttar Pradesh, ideally from Varanasi. This has also been conveyed to Murli Manohar Joshi. If Joshi makes way for Modi, he may have to settle for Kanpur-the seat presently held by Sri Prakash Jaiswal of the Congress. There is also a speculation that Modi may be fielded from both UP and Gujarat (Ahmedabad East, Surat or Vadodra). However, in such a situation rival parties may dub it as a sign of “insecurity”. The BJP, which plans to contest around 450 of the 543 Lok Sabha seats, has already announced the names of 106 candidates. The party may hold
another meeting on March 15 to clear some “contentious names”. Crucial meeting
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Ashwani writes to Sonia over Tewari’s ‘taint’ remark
New Delhi, March 12 Expressing his astonishment over the remarks attributed to Union Minister Manish Tewari on the issue stating political leaders be denied ticket to contest elections on allegations, Ashwani attacked the idea as a view that is plainly destructing of hard-earned reputations and political careers built over decades. In a letter to Congress president Sonia Gandhi, the former Law Minister argued: “Constitutional due process, the time-tested and sacrosanct principle of presumption of innocence in favour of individuals and respect for human dignity vigorously militate against the view that politically inspired and wreckless allegations can be a substitute for credible evidence where criminality is imputed. Can a mere allegation ‘taint'’ a person? This is the larger issue of principle that needs to be answered.” Kumar's missive comes at a time when reports suggested that Tewari is eyeing to shift from Ludhiana to Chandigarh, represented in the current Lok Sabha by Pawan Bansal who had to quit the Union Cabinet after his nephew was arrested by the cash-for postings in Railways, a portfolio Bansal held. While refraining from commenting on the merits of the case, Kumar underscored that Tewari or anyone cannot be allowed to compromise the political careers of party colleagues only to advance one's own political aspirations. “On principle, we must firmly stand behind those who are having to face a sustained campaign or calumny without an iota of credible evidence of criminality or corruption against them. The stark ready of our present politics is that there is hardly any leader in any political party who has not been made a subject of media trial on the basis of completely untenable allegations.” The Congress, he said, in such a situation assert the constitutional principle that individuals are presumed to be innocent until convicted or at least until a charge sheet has been filed against them, as suggested by the Law Commission.
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Anna gives Mamata’s Delhi rally a skip
New Delhi, March 12 Anna, who has publicly praised Banerjee for her simplicity and honesty in public life, was expected to give a boost to her national ambitions by being present on the dais with her. His absence is a setback to the Trinamool Congress as the party supporters expected the occasion to be a grand launching pad for “Didi” at the national level. No reason was given by TMC leaders for Anna’s absence. Party spokesman and MP Derek Oberoi said, “The reason could best be given by Anna”. However, supporters donning Anna’s trademark cap said he was not well. He had arrived in the Capital last night. However, those present attributed his absence from the event to the low turnout which was in stark contrast to the large crowds at the time of his fast at the same venue, the Ram Lila Ground, to press for Jan Lokpal Bill. A prominent Muslim cleric form Kolkata had warned the TMC supremo of withdrawing support to the party if she shared dais with Anna. In further setback to the TMC, Vinod Binny, expelled AAP MLA, also did not turn up. He had said that he would take part in the rally fuelling speculations of his joining the TMC and contesting as its nominee. Addressing the rally, Mamata said the rally was that of Anna Hazare. “I have come to the rally as I had promised him. I would prefer to die than failing to keep my promise,” she said. Without naming him, she lashed out at Modi alleging that he was communal and had misled the people about the development of Gujarat. She questioned the development model of Gujarat on several indicators, including infant mortality and malnutrition and school drop-out rate. She wondered how the BJP would fulfil its claims of forming a government at the Centre. She was equally critical of the Congress and said the UPA led by it had ruined the economy of the country. She ruled out support to the BJP or the Congress. She alleged that both had formed a “syndicate” and acted opportunistically in Parliament and outside against the interests of the people. “There is no guarantee that they would not sell the country to serve their vested interests,”
she said. Mamata charged that the CPM had tacit understanding with the two national parties. “We will not support any party which has association with the three parties”, she said. Referring to the Third Front she said it was a “tired” and “retired” Front with no credibility. Binny too stays away
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Chiranjeevi's actor-brother to float new party
Hyderabad, March 12 Sources said the new party would field candidates both from Telangana and Seemandhra regions. Kalyan is likely to contest the Lok Sabha elections from Malkajgiri in the city and Kakinada in the coastal region. "The main objective of the new party is to strive for honesty, integrity and genuine service to public life. It will promise corruption-free and responsive governance," a source said. Rumoured to be among the highest paid actors along with Mahesh Babu, NTR Jr and Nagarjuna, Kalyan is said to be nursing a strained relationship with his elder brother Chiranjeevi. Kalyan is said to be unhappy with the way Chiranjeevi handled his political career and strongly opposes the policies of the Congress. Chiranjeevi had ended up merging his three-year-old Praja Rajyam Party (PRP) with the Congress in June 2011 in return for a Central Cabinet berth for himself and positions of power for his close aides in the state. The PRP failed at the ballot box in the 2009 elections, managing to win just 18 seats in the 294-member Assembly. "The Kapu community is at present seething in anger against Chiranjeevi for betraying them and pursuing a selfish path," a source said.
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BJD's first list has 3 royals, film star
Bhubaneswar, March 12 Announcing the list of candidates for five LS and 30 Assembly constituencies, BJD chief Patnaik said rest of the nominees for the first phase of twin polls would be declared soon. While international hockey player and Rajya Sabha MP Dilip Tirkey has been named as BJD's candidate from Sundergarh, the party re-nominated Bolangir MP Kalikesh Singh and fielded Arka Keshari Deo, son of former BJP MP and royal family member, from Kalahandi. Kalikesh hails from the Bolangir royal family. Sitting Barhampur MP Siddhant Mohapatra has been re-nominated from the seat, while Ladu Kishore Swain has been fielded from Aska, replacing sitting MP Nityananda Pradhan. For the Assembly, the party retained five ministers - Revenue Minister SN Patro in Digapahandi, Women and Child Development Minister Usha Devi (a royal family member) in Chikiti, Tribal Development Minister Lal Behari Himirika in Rayagada, Industries Minister Niranjan Pujari in Sonepur and Transport Minister Subrat Tarai in Raghunathpalli.
— PTI
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BJP giving Holi a communal colour: Cong
New Delhi, March 12 Attacking the "fourth class vote bank politics" of the BJP, Sharma said: "The BJP is so desperate to come to power that it is foregoing all ethics and decency." "Its leadership, after being rejected by the people of Delhi during the Assembly elections, is now desperate to adopt any method to disturb the communal amity in Delhi," he said. Attacking the BJP and the RSS, he said they were trying to give "Namo Namo" chant a religious slant. "Whenever election time comes around, the BJP, along with spreading lies, also tries to foment religious tension, by spreading wrong messages. The manner in which the BJP had collected funds for the construction of the Ram Mandir had not been forgotten by the people of Delhi. There is no account of the money collected for the construction of the temple till now," he said. Sharma said the "Ek Note, Modi ko Vote" slogan of the BJP has proved to be a flop show. "BJP leaders have themselves accepted it. The 18,000 boxes have now been rendered as mere show pieces," Sharma
added. — PTI
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Mayawati denies ticket to sitting MPs
Lucknow, March 12 Party chief Mayawati has also considered other factors like caste equations and winnability for changing some party candidates at the last minute. In place of three MPs, the BSP has strategically chosen one of their family members while another two sitting MPs are now contesting from other political parties. In Basti, sitting MP Arvind Chaudhury has vacated his seat for his uncle Ram Prasad Chaudhury while Aligarh MP Rajkumari Singh wanted to handover her seat to her son Arvind Singh. In Kairana, sitting MP Tabassum Hasan's seat has been given to her brother-in-law Qamar Hasan. As Tabassum's son Naheed Hasan has chosen to join the Samajwadi Party and become the SP candidate from Kairana, the BSP chose to pit him against his uncle.
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Jagdambika Pal accuses Khurshid’s NGO of fraud
Lucknow, March 12 Retaliating to Khurshid's statement of "greedy" Pal's exit helping the Congress, Pal today presented documents to prove that in Siddhartha Nagar district, Khurshid's NGO - Zakir Hussain Memorial Trust - had misappropriated money by forging documents of district officials. Pal said he had documents to prove that none of the 24 disabled beneficiaries of his district had received any appliances from the Trust owned by Khurshid and his wife. Quoting the district disability officer, Pal said no such camp had been held in the district on the stated date of January 25, 2010, or any other date since the officer's tenure in the district since 2008. "The district official's signature has been forged by the NGO to claim money for the appliances, which were distributed at a non-existent camp to fictitious beneficiaries whose addresses are fake," Pal added.
— TNS
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Process for LS polls set in motion
New Delhi, March 12 President Pranab Mukherjee issued the notification for the polling in these constituencies on the recommendation of the Union Cabinet to which the Election Commission had sent the schedule. The notifications for Assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim will be issued by the Governors of respective states. The first notification for Lok Sabha, however, relates to the third phase of polling to be held on April 10 because of some administrative reasons like a holiday being observed in Bihar on March 22.
— PTI
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Ram Kripal Yadav joins
BJP
New Delhi, March 12 He was all praise for party’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi whom he is believed to have once “abused” but accused mentor Lalu Prasad of promoting family. Yadav said he would work for the BJP not as a leader but as a worker. He also accused Lalu Prasad of “promoting” his family over his party workers, who he said, were feeling stifled. “The RJD has moved away from its core values. Lalu gave precedence to his family over party and cadres. I was in a dilemma on what to do for the last few days and then decided to quit the party and join BJP for the sake of giving social justice,” he said.
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The BJP and Congress formed a syndicate in Parliament. They did not even allow amendments (to the
Bill).
Exams are natural and our hard work will pay. My wishes are with you that you pass with flying colours in class X and
XII. Narendra Modi, BJP
Anti-graft crusader Anna Hazare today gave a miss to a rally addressed by and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata
Banerjee. Mamata, West Bengal Chief Minister, launched a scathing attack on BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi and made a pitch for a government at the Centre without the BJP and the Congress after the General Election.
Chandigarh, March 12
The Congress champions the cause of women like no other. Compared to other parties, we give fair representation to women while allotting tickets. We could not give 33 per cent reservation to women because of a fractured mandate and pressure from partner
parties. — Ashok Tanwar, haryana cong president
There was a time when women did not come forward to contest elections due to purdah system. Now, they are equal participants. We gave 30 per cent seats to women in the Assembly
elections. — Ashok Arora, state 
inld chief
The National Conference was founded by Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, a Kashmiri leader of towering status, in 1935 and has remained at the centre stage of Kashmir's political scene for most of the time. 
After remaining in power for the past five years, the National Conference is banking on leaders of several generations, young and old. Led by the founder Abdullah's son Farooq Abdullah and grandson Omar Abdullah, the party boasts of a loyal cadre. The workers remained attached even in turbulent times. 
New Delhi, March 12
The constituency comprises 31.64 per cent OBC votes, 18.47 per cent Scheduled Castes, 9.38 per cent Brahmins, 9.04 per cent Gujjars, 6.05 per cent Muslims, 5.3 per cent Punjabis, 5.29 per cent Jats and 14.83 per cent others.
"The area lacks parking space, but the MP has no vision for the development of his constituency," Agarwal said.